Reclining chair of the multiple movement lounger type



Feb. 8, 1966 P. s. FLETCHER RECLINING CHAIR OF THE MULTIPLE MOVEMENTLOUNGER TYPE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 19, 1963 FIG. I.

I. M y

m m/W NC E T Wu 3 r 3 m 5 M m n Y M B 2 m F Feb. 8, 1966 P. s. FLETCHE-RREGLINING CHAIR OF THE MULTIPLE MOVEMENT LOUNGER TYPE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Nov.

INVENTOR.

BY q w'raluasm United States Patent 3,233,938 RECLINING CHAIR OF THEMULTIPLE MOVEMENT LOUNGER TYPE Peter S. Fletcher, Delray Beach, Fla.,assignor to Anton Lorenz, Boynton Beach, Fla. Filed Nov. 19, 1963, Ser.No. 324,798 9 Claims. (Cl. 297-84) The present invention relatesgenerally to reclining chairs, and in particular to a reclining chair ofthe multiple movement lounger type.

A multiple movement lounger type of reclining chair comprises a supportand body-supporting means including a beak-rest and seat mounted on thesupport for movement from an upright sitting position through a firstmovement phase to an intermediate, tilted sitting position and formovement through a second phase from the intermediate, tilted sittingposition to a fully reclined position. Such a reclining chair usuallyincorporates a leg-rest which is movable from a stored position beneaththe forward end of the seat when the body-supporting means is in theupright sitting position to an extended and elevated legsupporting meansis moved through the first movement phase to an intermediate, tiltedsitting position, the legrest remaining in the extended and elevatedleg-supporting position throughout the second movement phase and as thebody-supporting means moves into the fully reclined position. In such achair, the angle between the seat and back-rest usually remainsrelatively fixed during the first movement phase to maintain the chairoccupant in a sitting attitude, both in the upright position and in theintermediate position, with provision being made for opening up theincluded angle between the seat and back-rest as the chair moves intothe fully reclined position.

Broadly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a recliningchair of the aforesaid general type.

As is generally understood, most reclining chairs incorporate so-calledchair hardware in the form of two identical mechanisms or linkagesdisposed one at each side of the chair, which hardware mounts theback-rest, seat and leg-rest on the support for movement relative toeach other to establish the several positions with optimum balance andsmooth operation. Not only must the chair hardware or linkage take intoaccount the aforesaid functional requirements but it must also beadaptable to a particular environment. One of the most difficultproblems is to realize the functional requirements in high leg and openframe construction which is characteristic of Scandinavian and lightscale modern design where there is a practical maximum chair depth andcorresponding length of the chair linkage which can be tolerated torealize proportions which meet esthetic requirements.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a recliningchair of the multiple movement lounger type which realizes one or moreof the aforesaid requirements. Specifically, it is within thecontemplation of the present invention to provide a reclining chairmechanism which is particularly suited for achieving the wellcoordinated movement and the optimum positions of comfort which arecharacteristic of a good multple movement lounger type of chair which iscompatible with the esthetic requirements imposed by light scalestyling.

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment demonstrating objects andfeatures of the present invention, there is provided a reclining chairof the multiple movement lounger type which comprises a support andbody-supporting means including a back-rest and seat, with the latterbeing pivotally mounted on the back-rest at a seat pivot. A carriermember is mounted on the support for turning movement about a carrierpivot. A front seat guiding link is pivotally mounted on the carriermember at a front ICC pivotal mount and'pivotally connected to the seatat a front pivotal connection and a rear back-rest guiding link ispivotally mounted on the support at a rear pivotal mount and pivotallyconnected to the back-rest at a rear pivotal connection. A holding linkis pivotally connected to the back-rest at a holding pivotal connectionspaced forwardly of the rear pivotal connection and forwardly of theseat pivot, with the portion of the backrest between the rear pivotalconnection and the holding pivotal connection defining a back-rest link.A second movement control linkage is operatively connected to thesupport and preferably includes a second movement lever pivotallymounted on the support at a lever pivot and having -a pivotal connectionto the holding link and a second movement connecting link pivotallyconnected to the second movement lever and to the carrier member.Provision is made for maintaining the carrier member stationary during afirst movement phase wherein the bodysupporting means moves from anupright sitting position to an intermediate, tilted sitting position.During such first movement phase, the front seat guiding link and therear back-rest guiding link turn about their respective pivotal mountsto guide the body-supporting means into the intermediate, tilted sittingposition, with the holding link effectively maintaining a prescribedangular relationship between the seat and back-rest during such firstmovement phase. Provision is made for blocking further turning movementof the rear back-rest guiding link about the rear pivotal mount at theend of the first movement phase and when the body-supporting means is inthe intermediate, tilted sitting position such that the rear pivotalconnection will serve as a stationary pivotal mount for the back-restduring a second movement phase wherein the body-supporting means movesfrom the intermediate, tilted sitting position to a fully reclinedposition. The turning movement of the carrier member about the carrierpivot and the turning movement of the back-rest about the rear pivotalconnection are coordinated by the second movement control linkage toopen up the in cluded angle between the seat and back-rest during thesecond movement phase. A leg-rest is suspended from the seat formovement from a stored position when the bodysupporting means is in theupright sitting position to an extended and elevated leg-supportingposition when the body-supporting means is in the intermediate, tiltedsitting position. As will be detailed hereinafter, the aforesaidconstruction is particularly suited to meet both the functional andesthetic requirements of a high leg, light scale multiple movementlounger type of chair.

The above brief description, as well as further objects, features andadvantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated byreference to the following detailed description of a presentlypreferred, but nonetheless illustrative embodiment, demonstratingfeatures of the present invention, when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away and sectioned,showing a reclining chair of the multiple movement lounger type in anupright sitting position, and particularly showing the chair linkage orhardware at the near side of the chair as viewed from the outer facethereof;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but with the chair hardware orlinkage at the near side of the chair removed to show the inner face ofthe chair hardware at the far side of the chair which is a mirror imageof the chair hardware at the near side of the chair;

FIG. 3 is a schematic showing of the chair in the upright sittingposition, with the chair linkage shown in the form of a stick diagram tofacilitate an understanding of the invention;

being illustrated from its inner face.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 1, but

showing the chair in the intermediate, tilted sitting position and withthe leg-rest in the extended and elevated leg-supporting position; and

FIG. v5 isa side elevational view similar to FIG. 4, but showing thechair in the fully reclined position, with the included angle between,the. seat and back-rest having been opened up and with the leg-reststill in the extended and elevated le -supporting position. I

Turning now specifically to the drawings, there is shown a recliningchairof the multiple movement lounger type demonstrating features ofthepresent invention, which is generally designated by the referencenumeral 10, and incdudes a support or frame 12 having" its oppositesides 14, 16 interconnected by suitable cross braces 18 and supportedondepending legs 20; As is generally'un derstood, substantiallyidentical chair linkages which are mirror images of each other aremounted on the chair frame or support 12 inwardly of the oppositesides.14, -16, with the linkage 22 at the near side being illustratedfrom its outer side and withthe'linkage 22' at the far side 16 22, 22"are of. identical construction and are shown as an aid in understandingthis exceptionally compact linkage mechanism, identical referencenumerals will be applied to the elements of the linkages 22, 22' and thedescrip: tion will proceedin termsof only one ofthe two linkages, itbeing understood that the other linkage is identical thereto.

Body-supporting means 24. including a back-rest 26.and a seat 28 havinga loose cushion 28a are movably mounted on the support 12 for recliningand inclining movement respectively through a first movement phase froman upright sitting position illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 to anintermediate,tilted sitting position illustrated in FIG. 4 and for asecond movement phase from the intermediate, tilted sitting positionillustrated in FIG. 4 through a series of L reclining positions to thefully reclined position illustratedvin FIG. 5. Disposedbeneath theforward end; of the seat 28 is a two-part leg-rest 30 which includes amain section 32 serving as a filler board across the forward end of thechair and an extension section 34, with the arrangement being such thatthe main section 32 and the extension section 34 rapidly move intoalignment 1 with each other by mechanisms to be described. Nor- Sincethe linkages mally, themain section 32 and the extension section 34 arein-a stored position as illustratedin FIG. 1, withthe extension section34 extending substantially at right angles.

(othe main section 32an'd projecting beneath the seat 28. Duringthefirst movement phase, and as may be appreciated by progressivelyinspecting FIGSxl and '4,

the leg-rest 30,:moves fromzthe stored positionto an extended andelevated leg-supporting position forwardly of the seat, with theleg-rest extension section '34 coming into alignment withthemain'section 32. As the chair moves from the intermediate, tiltedsitting position illustrated in FIG. 4 through the series of recliningpositions to the fully reclined position illustrated in FIG. 5,-'the-..

leg-rest30 remains in the extended leg-supporting posi- I .60 the seat,as'rnay be'appreciated by progressively inspect-' brackets may beconsidered to be parts of the support 12,

the back-rest 26 and the seat 28 respectively. A carrier member 44extends lengthwise of the linkage 22beneath the seat bracket 42 and ispivotally mounted at its rearward end on the support at a carrier pivot46 for turning movement throughan upward arc in the clockwise direc:

tion during the'second movement phase, as may be .ap-. preciatedbyprogressively inspecting FIGS. 4 and 5; A

stud or stop 4S2 normally supportsthe carrier link 44 in 1 an inactiveposition asshowninFIGS. 1 and 2. A front seat guidinglink 48-ispivotally mounted atthe forward end. of the carrier member 44 at a frontpivotal mount 50 and pivotally'connected to the. seat 28,.via. theseat-bracket 42-iat a front pivotal connection 52. A rear back-restguiding link 54Lislpivotally mounted on the support 12 at a rear.pivotal mount 26 and pivotally connected to the back-rest 56 viathe-"back-rest bracket 4( at a rear pivotal connection.58.f.. Therearpivotalconnection 58 is spaced 1 rearwardly of the'pivotal11101111160; between the seat 28 and the back-rest' 26, which pivotalmount is'provided atv the upturned rearward end: of the seat bracket 42.A- holding link 62;, which. is'of generally. L-shaped configuration,

is pivotally connected tofthe back-restu26 at a holdingpivotal'conne'ction mat the forward end of the back-rest bracket 40forward of the pivotal mount 60.

The portion of the back-rest bracket 40 1 and, there-' fore, fromakinematic pointzof vieWytheback-rest 26,.

between the rear pivotal 'connectionlSS and the holding pivotalconnection 64. defines 'a relatively long back-rest. link which ispreferably of a length of the order of six.

inches. It .will be understoodthat the hack-rest link 58- 64 is,kinematically, part of the back-rest 26.. Practical eXperience-in thedesign of multiple movementlinkages indicates that the back-rest link asmeasured between its operative :connectionsto the rear back-rest guidinglink:

54 and the holding link 62 should be relativelylong to assure optimumfunctioning; of the'chair; For example,-

if the effective length of'the aback-rest link is made relativelysmall,j the 'play encountered in 'thBiPiVOtS of the.

holding linkandback-rest guiding link in a typical chair would causeundue ilooseness and wobbling of. the backrest 26 at its upperend. Evenwith play in the riveted joints of ten thousandths of aninchQwhich isthenormal clearance to be expected inthe commercial manufacture of.reclining chair hardware, there would be'a wobble at .the upperend ofthe back-rest of over one-half an inch,

taking into account the maguific'ationwfactor of 15 which;

would resnlt'from the employment of a two inch back? rest'link with aback-rest having a height'ofthirty inches. Theabove illustrative exampledoes; not take in account the effect the higher stress on the joints and.the resultant strain and rivet wear,.'both of which would contribute tofurther l'ooseness. However, the provision of a relatively longback-rest link in the order of six inches in length .is oftendifiicultto achieve .and. in particular presents a problem with a chair of highleg, light scale modern styling since forsnch a chair. there is apractical maximum .chair depth anda corresponding maximum length of the.operat-,.

ing linkage .which can :be tolerated to obtain good pro-. portions. Withthepresent linkage, it is possible to locate and design the back-restguiding meansrsuch that the same will be hidden; from view, both in, thenormal sitting posit'ion of the chairshown in .FIG.. 1 and intheintermediate, tilted sitting position shown in FIG. 4, and to providefor *an'optimurn' length for the back-rest mountingdink as determinedbetween the back-restpivotal connection 58 and thesholding pivotalconnection 64.

A second movement control. linkage is operatively con-:

nected to the support-12,10 the holding link .62 and to.

the carrier member 44 and includes-a second movement lever 66 whichisi'pivotally mounted on thesupport 12 at a lever pivot 681vadjacentthe: upper end thereof and has a pivOtalconnection-TO' to theholding link 62. The sec- 0nd movement-control linkage. is completed bya second movement connecting linkf72'which has a pivotal conneet-ion74.at'itsupp'er end to the; carriermember 44 and a pivotal;connection'sflG at 'itslowerrendto the second,

'movement lever at a; point spaced from the lever pivot 68;

Provision isjmade forblocking the carrier member 44 against turningmovementabout. the Qarrierppivot 4.6at

the start of the first movement phase wherein the bodysupporting means24 is in the upright sitting position. Specifically, such blocking meansincludes a pin and hook sequencing means embodying a pin 78 fixed to thesupport and engaged within a notch provided on a hook member 80 which ispivoted on the carrier member 44 at a hook pivot 82. A spring 84 isoperatively connected to the hook member 80 to normally bias the hookedend thereof into engagement with the pin 78 as seen best in FIGS. 1 and2. Towards the end of the first movement phase, and as thebody-supporting means 24 moves into the intermediate, tilted sittingposition shown in FIG. 4, the hook member 80 is contacted by a releasingpin 86 mounted on the seat rail 42 which swings the hook member 80 outof engagement with the pin 78, as seen in FIG. 4, to thereby release thecarrier member for turning movement through an upward arc in theclockwise direction about the carrier pivot 46 during the secondmovement phase.

During the first movement phase, the front seat guiding link 48 turn-sabout the relatively stationary pivotal mount 50 while the rearback-rest guiding link 54 turns about the rear pivotal mount 56 to guidethe body supporting means 24 into the intermediate, tilted sittingposition shown in FIG. 4, with the holding link 62 being effective tosubstantially maintain a relatively fixed angular relationship betweenthe seat 28 and the back-rest 26 throughout the first movement phase.

Provision is made for blocking further turning movement of the rearback-rest guiding link 54 in the clockwise direction about the rearpivotal mount 56 at the end of the first movement phase such that therear pivotal connection 58 will serve as a relatively fixed pivot forthe back-rest 26 during the second movement phase and as thebody-supporting means 24 moves from the intermediate, tilted sittingposition shown in FIG. 4, through a series of reclining positions to thefully reclining position shown in FIG. 5. In this illustrativeembodiment, a notch 54a is provided on the rear back-rest guiding link54 which is positioned to engage a stud at the carrier pivot 46 servingas a stop at the end of the first movement phase and when the chair isin the intermediate, titled sitting position.

During the second movement phase, and with the hook member 82 disengagedfrom the sequencing pin 78, the carrier member 44 is free to turn aboutthe carrier pivot 46 and the back-rest 26 will turn about the rearpivotal connection 58. The turning movement of the carrier member 44about the carrier pivot 46 and the turning of the back-rest 26 about therear pivotal connection 58 is coordinated throughout the second movementphase by the second movement control linkage 66, 72 and the holding link62 to open up the included angle between the seat 28 and the back-rest26. The design of the second movement linkage and its several operativeconnections in addition to opening up the included angle between theseat and back-rest must take into account other factors, includingbalance, the relative positions of the seat and back-rest to each otherthroughout the second movement phase to establish successive recliningpositions, and the like.

In this illustrative embodiment, the two-part leg-rest 30 is suspendedfrom the seat 28 by a leg-rest mounting linkage 87 which incorporates atoggle linkage mechanism of the type disclosed and claimed in US. PatentNo. 2,945,533 of July 19, 1960, in the name of Peter S. Fletcher, whichpatent is assigned to the assignee of the instant application. Theleg-rest mounting linkage 87 includes a first pair of leg-rest mountinglinks 88, 90 and a second pair of leg-rest mounting links 92, 94. Thelegrest mounting link 88 has a pivotal mount 96 at one end on the seatand a pivotal connection 98 at the other end to the link 90, with thelink 90 having a pivotal connection 100 at its forward end, the pivotalconnection 100 serves to pivotally mount the leg-rest extension section34 on the main leg-rest section 32. The link 92 has a pivotal mount 102on the seat spaced from the pivotal mount 96 and has a pivotalconnection 104 adjacent its other end to' the link 94, with the link 94having a pivotal connection 106 at its forward end to the main leg-restsection 32 at a point spaced from the pivotal connection 100. The link92 has an integral extension projecting beyond the pivotal connection104 which extension has a pivotal connection 108 to the link tocoordinate the respective link pairs 88, 90 and 92, 94. As detailed insaid patent, provision is made for rapidly turning the legrest extensionsection 34 into alignment with the main leg-rest section 32 during theinitial part of the first movement phase by the provision of aconnecting link or extension-actuating link 110 which has a pivotalconnection 112 to the link 94 at a point spaced from the pivotalconnection 106 and a pivotal connection 114 to the leg-rest extensionsection 34 at a point spaced from the pivotal connection and mount 100.The link 94a defined between the pivotal connection 106, 112 will berecognized as providing the driver link of a toggle linkage which isconstrained to move in a rotary path about the pivotal connection 106and produces an axial force along the line of action of the connectinglink 110 such that the leg-rest extension section 34 moves into thein-line position relative to the main leg-rest section 32 in response tothe rotary movement of the driver link 94a during the first part of thefirst movement phase. The rotary movement of the driver link 94a is suchthat the effective lever arm, which is the perpendicular distance fromthe line of action of the connecting link to the center of rotation 106of the driver link 94a is less when the driver link 94a is in its finalposition at the end of the first movement phase than it is when thedriver link 94a is in its initial position with the body-supportingmeans in the upright sitting position. For further principles of theconstruction of such toggle linkage mechanisms, reference may be made tosaid patent.

Leg-rest actuating means are operatively connected to the leg-restmounting linkage 87 and to a link which is operable during the firstmovement phase for moving the leg-rest 30 to the elevated leg-supportingposition during such first movement phase. The leg-rest actuating meansincludes an integral extension 48a of the front seat guiding link 48which serves as an actuating arm, and an actuating link 116 which has apivotal connection 118 to the actuating arm 48a and the pivotalconnection 120 to the link 92 of the leg-rest mounting linkage 87.

A typical sequence of operations will now be described to facilitate amore thorough understanding of the present invention:

When the chair occupant is seated in the chair and leans against theback-rest 26, the back-rest 26 and seat 28 move through the firstmovement phase from the upright sitting position illustrated in FIGS. 1,2, and 3 to the intermediate, tilted sitting position illustrated inFIG. 4, With the seat and back-rest being guided by the front seatguiding link 48 turning about the pivotal mount 50, the rear back-restguiding link 54 turning about the pivotal mount 56 and the constrainingeffect of the holding link 62, it being appreciated that the carriermember 44 is locked against movement by the sequencing means 78, S0.Concurrent with the turning movement of the front seat guiding link 48about the pivotal mount 50, there is a corresponding movement of theintegral extension 48a which in turn imparts a thrust 116 to theleg-rest mounting linkage 87 which swings the leg-rest 30 to theextended and elevated leg-supporting position, with the simultaneousturning of the leg-rest extension section 34 into an inline positionrelative to the main leg-rest section 32. As the end of the firstmovement phase is approached, the pin 86 contacts the hook member 80 toturn the same about the pivot 82 against the bias of the spring 84 whichreleases the carrier member for turning movement about the carrier pivotand conditions the chair for operation in its second movement phase. Theend of the first movement phase is established when the rear back-restguiding link 54 contacts the carrier pivot 46 serving as a stopwhereupon continued movement of the back-rest26 will be a simpleturning: movement thereof aboutthe back-rest pivotal connection 58'.

- 'Bycontinued application-of pressure against the backrest 26, thechair. occupant'initiates the second movement phase during which theincluded angle between thebackrest 26 and the seat 28 is opened up at arate determined by the designof the second movement control linkageThroughout such second movement phase, the leg-rest 3!) is maintained inits leg-rest supporting position, moving in a substantially fixedrelationship relative to the seat28 of the chair.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intendedin theforegoing disclosure and in some instances some features of theinventionvwill be employed without a corresponding use ofotherlfeatures. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claimsbe construed .broad ly and in a manner consistentwith the spiritandscope of the invention herein.

What I claim is:

1. A reclining chair. of. the multiple movementlounger typeacomprisiriga support,- body-supporting means. including a back-rest'anda seat pivotally mounted on said back-rest at 'a seat pivot, a carriermember mounted on said support for turning movement about a carrierpivot, a front seat guiding link pivotally mounted on said carriermember at a front pivotal mount and pivotally con nected to said seatatca frontpivotal connection, a rear back-rest guiding link pivotallymounted on said support at a rear pivotal mount and pivotally connectedto said back-rest at a rear pivotal connection spaced rearwardly of saidseat pivot, a holding link pivotally connected to said back-rest'at aholding pivotalconnection spaced forwardly. of said rear pivotalconnection and said seat pivot, the portion of said back-rest betweensaid rear pivotal connection and said holding pivotal connectiondefining-a,

back-rest link, a second movement control linkage operatively'connectedto said support, said holding link and said carrier member, saidcarrierme'mber remaining stationary during a first movement phase, saidfront seat guiding link and said rear back-rest guiding link turningabout said front and rear pivotal mounts during said first movementphase to guide said body-supporting means from an upright sittingposition into an intermediate, tilted sitting position with said holdinglink being efi'ective to substantially maintain a prescribed angularrelationship between said seat and back-rest during said (first movementphase, means for blocking further turning movement of said rearback-rest guiding link about saidirear pivotal mount at the end of saidfirst movement phase and when said body-supporting means is in,saidintermediate, tilted sitting position, said rear pivotal connectionserving as a stationary pivotal mount for said backrest during a secondmovement phase wherein said bodysupporting means moves from saidintermediate, tilted sit-- ting :position to a fully reclined position,the turning movement of said carrier member about said carrier pivot andof said back-rest about said rear pivotalconnection being coordinated bysaid second movement control link- V age to open up the included anglebetween said seat and back-rest during said second movement phase.

2. A reclining chair according to claim 1 wherein said second movementcontrol linkage includes a second movement lever pivotally mounted onsaid support at a lever pivot and having a pivotal connection to saidhold ing link and a second movement connecting link pivotally connectedto said second movement lever and to said carrier member.

3. A reclining chair of the multiple movement lounger type comprising asupport, body-supporting means including a back-rest and a seatpivotally mounted on said back-rest at a seat pivot, a carrier membermounted on said support for turningmovementabout acarrier pivot,

'afront sea t guiding link pivotally mounted on said car:

rier member at a front pivotal mount and pivotally cori-v nected ,tosaid seat at a front pivotal connection a rear back-rest guiding link,pivotally mounted on said support at a rear pivotal mount and pivotallyconnected to said-backrest at a rear pivotal connection spacedrearwardly of said seat pivot, a holding link pivotally connected tosaid back-rest at a holding pivotal connection spaced forwardly of saidrear pivotal connection and"v said seat pivot,.the portion of-saidback-rest between said rear pivotal connection. and said holding pivotalconnection defining a back-rest link," a second movement control linkageoperatively connected to said support,

said holding linkand said carrier member, means for being effective tosubstantially maintain a prescribed,

angular relationship between said seat and back-rest duringsaid firstmovement phase, means for blocking further turning movement of said rearback-rest guiding link about said :rear pivotal mount at theend of saidfirst movement phase and when said body-supporting means is in saidintermediate,tilted-sitting positionysaid rear pivotal connectionserving as a stationary-pivotal mount for said iback-rest during .asecond movement phase wherein said body-supporting means moves from saidintermediate tilted sitting position to a fully reclined position, thetturning .rnovement of said carrier member about said carrier pivot andof said back-rest about said rear pivotal connection being: coordinatedby said second movement control linkage vto'open up the included anglebetweensaid seat and'back-r est during said second movement phase.

4. A reclining chair of the multiple movementlounger type comprising asupport, body-supporting means in eluding a back-rest and a seatpivotally mounted on=said back-rest at a seat pivot, a carrier membermounted on said supportfor turning movement about a carrier pivot, afront seat guiding link pivotally mounted on said carrier member at afront pivotal-mount and pivotally con'-,

nected to said, seat at a front'pivotalconnection, a rear. back-restguiding link pivotally mounted on said supportat a rear pivotalmountrand pivotally connected to said back-rest at a rear pivotalconnection spaced-rear-v Wardly of said seat pivot, a holding linkpivotally connectedto said back-rest'at a holding pivotal connectionspaced 'forwardly of said rear pivotal connection and said seat pivot,the portion of'said backrest-between said i rear-l pivotal connectionand said holding pivotal connection defining a backrest link, asecondlmovement control linkage operatively connected: to said support,said;

holding link and said carrier memben'said 'carrienmem -ber remainingstationary during a firstmovement phase,- sa1d front seat guiding linkand said rear back-rest guiding link turning about said front andrear-pivotal mounts during said first movement phaseto guide said body-esupporting means from an upright sitting position into an intermediate,tilted sitting position'with said holding link being effective tosubstantially maintain a prescribed-angular relationship between saidseat and backrest during said first movement phase, means for block--.

ing further vturning movement of said rear back-rest guiding link aboutsaid rear pivotal mount at'the end of said first movement phase andwhenisaidvbody-supporting means is in said (intermediate, tilted:sitting posi-,

tion, said rear pivotal connection serving as a stationary pivotal mountfor said back-rest during asecond movement phase wherein saidbody-supporting meansmovesfrom said intermediate, tilted sittingpositionto a .fully reclined position, the turning movement of said carriermember about said carrier pivot and of said back-rest about said rearpivotal connection being coordinated by said second movement controllinkage to open up the included angle between said seat and back-restduring said second movement phase, a leg-rest, a leg-rest mountinglinkage operatively connected to said leg-rest and suspended from saidseat for mounting said leg-rest for movement from a stored position whensaid body-supporting means is in said upright sitting position to anextending and elevated leg-supporting position when said body-supportingmeans is in said intermediate, tilted sitting position, and leg-restactuating means operatively connected to said leg-rest mounting linkageand to a link which is operable during said first movement phase formoving said leg-rest to said elevated leg-supporting position duringsaid first movement phase.

5. A reclining chair according to claim 4 wherein said leg-restactuating means includes an integral extension of said front seatguiding link and an actuating link connecting said extension to saidleg-rest mounting linkage.

6. A reclining chair according to claim 5 wherein said second movementcontrol linkage includes a second movement lever pivotally mounted onsaid support at a lever pivot and having a pivotal connection to saidholding link and a second movement connecting link pivotally connectedto said second movement lever and to said carrier member.

7. A reclining chair of the multiple movement lounger type comprising asupport, body-supporting means including a back-rest and a seatpivotally mounted on said back-rest at a seat pivot, a carrier membermounted on said support for turning movement about a carrier pivot, afront seat guiding link pivotally mounted on said carrier member at afront pivotal mount and pivotally connected to said seat at a frontpivotal connection, a rear back-rest guiding link pivotally mounted onsaid support at a rear pivotal mount and pivotally connected to saidback-rest at a rear pivotal connection spaced rearwardly of said seatpivot, a holding link pivotally connected to said back-rest at a holdingpivotal connection spaced forwardly of said rear pivotal connection andsaid seat pivot, the portion of said back-rest between said rear pivotalconnection and said holding pivotal connection defining a back-restmounting link, a second movement control linkage operatively connectedto said support, said holding link and said carrier member, means forblocking said carrier member against turning movement about said carrierpivot at the start of a first movement phase wherein saidbody-supporting means is in an upright sitting position, said front seatguiding link and said rear back-rest guiding link turning about saidfront and rear pivotal mounts during said first movement phase to guidesaid body-supporting means into an intermediate, tilted sitting positionwith said holding link being effective to substantially maintain aprescribed angular relationship between said seat and back-rest duringsaid first movement phase, means for blocking further turning movementof said rear back-rest guiding link about said rear pivotal mount at theend of said first movement phase and when said body-supporting means isin said intermediate, tilted sitting position, said rear pivotalconnection serving as a stationary pivotal mount for said back-restduring a second movement phase wherein said body-supporting means movesfrom said intermediate, tilted sitting position, to a fully reclinedposition, the turning movement of said carrier member about said carrierpivot and of said back-rest about said rear pivotal connection beingcoordinated by said second movement control linkage to open up theincluded angle between said seat and back-rest during said secondmovement phase, a legrest, a leg-rest mounting linkage operativelyconnected to said leg-rest and suspended from said seat for mountingsaid leg-rest for movement from a stored position when saidbody-supporting means is in said upright sitting position to an extendedand elevated leg-supporting position when said body-supporting means isin said intermediate, tilted sitting position, and leg-rest actuatingmeans operatively connected to said leg-rest mounting linkage and to alink which is operable during said first movement phase for moving saidleg-rest to said elevated leg-supporting position during said firstmovement phase.

8. A reclining chair according to claim 7 wherein said leg-rest includesa main section arranged to serve as a filler beneath the forward end ofsaid seat when in said stored position and an extension sectionextending substantially at right angles to said main section andrearwardly of said main section beneath said seat when in said storedposition, means pivotally mounting said extension section on said mainsection at a mounting pivot, said leg-rest mounting linkage beingoperative during said first movement phase to move said main andextension sections into alignment with each other, said leg-restmounting linkage including at least a first mounting link pivotallyconnected to said main section at a first leg-rest pivot spaced fromsaid mounting pivot, a second mounting link pivotally connected to saidsections coaxially with said mounting pivot, and an extension-actuatinglink pivotally connected to said first mounting link at a point spacedfrom said first leg-rest pivot and to said extension section at a secondleg-rest pivot spaced from said mounting pivot.

9. A reclining chair according to claim 8 wherein said leg-rest mountinglinkage includes a double fourbar linkage suspended from said seat andoperatively connected to said leg-rest,

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,945,533 7/ 1960Fletcher 297- 2,948,331 8/1960 Schliephacke 29786 3,043,621 7/ 1962Fletcher 297- 3,086,815 4/ 1963 Fletcher 297815 3,096,119 7/1963Fletcher 29775 3,137,521 6/1964 Re 29775 FOREIGN PATENTS 847,946 9/1960Great Britain. 864,906 4/ 1961 Great Britain.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

1. A RECLINING CHAIR OF THE MULTIPLE MOVEMENT LOUNGER TYPE COMPRISING ASUPPORT, BODY-SUPPORTING MEANS INCLUDING A BACK-REST AND A SEATPIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID BACK-REST AT A SEAT PIVOT, A CARRIER MEMBERMOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT FOR TURNING MOVEMENT ABOUT A CARRIER PIVOT, AFRONT SEAT GUIDING LINK PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID CARRIER MEMBER AT AFRONT PIVOTAL MOUNT AND PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID SEAT AT A FRONTPIVOTAL CONNECTION, A REAR BACK-REST GUIDING LINK PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ONSAID SUPPORT AT A REAR PIVOT MOUNT AND PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAIDBACK-REST AT A REAR PIVOTAL CONNECTION SPACED REARWARDLY OF SAID SEATPIVOT, A HOLDING LINK PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID BACK-REST AT A HOLDINGPIVOTAL CONNECTION SPACED FORWARDLY OF SAID REAR PIVOTAL CONNECTION ANDSAID SEAT PIVOT, THE PORTION OF SAID BACK-REST BETWEEN SAID REAR PIVOTALCONNECTION AND SAID HOLDING PIVOTAL CONNECTION DEFINING A BACK-RESTLINK, A SECOND MOVEMENT CONTROL LINKAGE OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAIDSUPPORT, SAID HOLDING LINK AND SAID CARRIER MEMBER, SAID CARRIER MEMBERREMAINING STATIONARY DURING A FIRST MOVEMENT PHASE, SAID FRONT SEATGUIDING LINK AND SAID REAR BACK-REST GUIDING LINK TURNING ABOUT SAIDFRONT AND REAR PIVOTAL MOUNTS DURING SAID FIRST MOVEMENT PHASE TO GUIDESAID BODY-SUPPORTING MEANS FROM AN UPRIGHT SITTING POSITION INTO ANINTERMEDIATE, TILTED SITTING POSITION WITH SAID HOLDING LINK BEINGEFFECTIVE TO SUBSTANTIALLY MAINTAIN A PRESCRIBED ANGULAR RELATIONSHIPBETWEEN SAID SEAT AND BACK-REST DURING SAID FIRST MOVEMENT PHASE, MEANSFOR BLOCKING FURTHER TURNING MOVEMENT OF SAID REAR BACK-REST GUIDINGLINK ABOUT SAID REAR PIVOTAL MOUNT AT THE END OF SAID FIRST MOVEMENTPHASE AND WHEN SAID BODY-SUPPORTING MEANS IS IN SAID INTERMEDIATE,TILTED SITTING POSITION, SAID REAR PIVOTAL CONNECTION SERVING AS ASTATIONARY PIVOTAL MOUNT FOR SAID BACKREST DURING A SECOND MOVEMENTPHASE WHEREIN SAID BODYSUPPORTING MEANS MOVES FROM SAID INTERMEDIATE,TILTED SITTING POSITION TO A FULLY RECLINED POSITION, THE TURNINGMOVEMENT OF SAID CARRIER MEMBER ABOUT SAID CARRIER PIVOT AND OF SAIDBACK-REST ABOUT SAID REAR PIVOTAL CONNECTION BEING COORDINATED BY SAIDSECOND MOVEMENT CONTROL LINKAGE TO OPEN UP THE INCLUDED ANGLE BETWEENSAID SEAT AND BACK-REST DURING SAID SECOND MOVEMENT PHASE.